sydney

Went to Sydney for the memorial service for my

friend Bryce Courtenay. We knew each other for

many years, I'll miss him a lot.

While there I enjoyed parts of the city,

especially the parks & the MCA

My favourite Valamanesh was not on display, but there

were things I liked, in other ways.

flowers, apsaras

A dear friend, Bryce Courtenay, passed away 

on November 22

Sending love for whatever comes next

in this mystery play.

similar

Looked today at Jo Whaley's site, & was struck by the

similarity in our work at a certain time. I painted a lot of

butterflies about 1977, while living in India;

she was or is photographing, & playing with

the patterns or conjunctions with the backgrounds.

I like them a lot. Tell me what you think?

Mine (5 above) began with Chuang Tzu's famous

words, I exhibited them in Sydney, in 1978.

one day old baby (elephant)

all my books

Here are all 5 of my books:

Images from the I Ching was the first, you may still find

used copies. 64 paintings of the hexagrams, I also wrote

the comment on each, Ralph Metzner wrote the foreword.

Published by Craftsman House.

A Family Frying Pan was the 3rd book, I illustrated

Bryce Courtenay's stories

Before that I illustrated A Recipe for Dreaming,

with small paintings, words by Bryce Courtenay,

& several years later we did another edition, this time with

my altered photographs; the 2nd edition top was published by

Penguin, (still available), while the 1st edition above is

no doubt available at Australian 2nd hand booksellers.

My 5th book is Burning Questions, it's available from

here ~ where you can also see further pages, they are

mostly my paintings, a few photographs,

Isaac Shapiro's words. You can also purchase from

his website

japanese book

Two more spreads, vintage & subject unknown.
Any clues? Click on image to enlarge.

Aren't they marvellous souvenirs, also light as feathers.

Can't recall how I came across the pinscreen works
of A Alexeieff & C Parker, fascinating how many ways
we can find to be creative, isn't it?

handprinted

Brought back two small handprinted books from Kyoto
in 1982, have never found out the story..

I just really like the way the figures flow, how the
script is an integral part of the design, & also
the way the rice paper has been handled many times.
2 more spreads in next post.

Gordon Parks

maya

This sketch book, from the mid 80's, was partly from museums
the rest from other sources, also with the aim to have
multiple (portable) references while travelling.

Here's one I used:
a woman carrying a baby on her head.
The painting right is in Burning Questions, it was initially
inspired by the old story of the teacher who asks his
student to first fetch him a glass of water
before he gives him an explanation of maya.
I think the flooded river is all too real for many

in Brisbane & other parts of Queensland,

this year.

farshidmesghali

a few more

Here's a bit more of Recipe for Dreaming, written by
Bryce Courtenay, with my illustrations, you should be
able to find 2nd hand copies, it was reprinted several times.
top left is the cover image, top right is possibly my favourite,
(When you're skating on thin ice you might as well tap-dance)
then the initial sketch for it's finished page.

From yesterday's link, Alexey Titarenko's stunning photographs.

back when

Left is the initial altered photo, top right the full image in the
2nd edition of Recipe for Dreaming, I used a bunch of letters
I'd written my mother. Above right is from the 1st edition
(my paintings; the more recent edition has my photos)
& below right the initial drawing. Text was about Aussie blokes.

The hands were on the invitation to my first exhibition.
It's a Tibetan mudra, but can't recall the meaning. The other
picture is Shiva. I have only a few b/w photos of that series,
they had quite delicate ink washes ~ in Dr Martins' inks
which are beautiful but extremely light sensitive.
Clearly I wasn't thinking ahead in 1970...

How to make a baby elephant float ~ lots of interesting images
& what a great name

inheritance -3

Continuing.. if you click on the image, they get a little larger..

Not a lot, but enough..

Have been felt making for a few days, &
enjoying the sunny days & cool nights.

If you didn't already: read ~ & look at ~
the wonderfully warm hearted Maira Kalman.
I've her book The Principles of Uncertainty,
it's a knockout.
A friend in San Cristobal sent a link about
Marcey Jacobson.
I saw her impressive filing system for negs,

when I lived in San Cristobal de las Casas
but hadn't seen all the photos shown here. Lovely.

inheritance-2

Don't know if I'll post all of it

~ using the post options for a few days ~

maybe there will be something else by Sunday,
then I just change the dates, or delete these.
click to enlarge

The wonderful Maira Kalman.

inheritance-1

Taking it easy for a few days, so here's a readable version
of a small family book I posted last year.

My family also finds it a bit obscure..

But I still like it. Click for larger view

A lovely site for a great master, Satyajit Ray.

winter, there

When making the paintings for my book Images from the I Ching,
I was travelling in the USA & Mexico. Left is hexagram 63,
'Before Completion', I was at a friend's house in the woods near
Lincoln then, & came across many funny snow figures.
Right is the breathtaking Canyon de Chelly.
(Incidentally, there are new projects, just not for show yet)

Recently bought a copy of Lynd Ward's God's Man, with his
great b/w pictures, see more on a blog I like a lot.
The one I have (reprint) came out the week of the 1929 crash,
bad timing in one way, but he was so in tune with his times.

which ones?

I'd like to offer 4 or 5 limited edition prints from my book, the
question is which images. Do you have a favourite ?
As you may know, the pictures in Burning Questions were made
over many years, during which my interests have focused
in much the same direction, while the styles have followed
artistic directions: I enjoyed a realistic approach, then found
an element of the surreal in photographs, & so on.

I'm getting prices for giclee prints, approx A4 size, archival paper.
Let me know if you're interested by writing a comment/email.

illustration

Right: some of my illustrations for A Family Frying Pan,
with author Bryce Courtenay. Story set early 1900's, I gave the
images a faint feel of that time. Afterwards I did the still life
at a workshop with James Guppy, & then left that style ~
it changes quite often, depending on my subject/interest,
though I feel the same sensibility shows through.

Some food that looks great here & here, if I ate those on the
same day I'd have very vivid dreams.

bodies

First, I wish my friends in Mexico well. I wish Mexico well.

&, because it seems to be a 'body' day, here's a reminder
from/about Burning Questions.
The link is to my other blog, where you can buy the book..

A good site for when I'm missing galleries.
From Victoria's blog, an item about a wonderful lady

to mullumbimby

In Vientiane there was a man standing beside some Lao temple
drawings, it looked a little like they'd jumped onto his arm.

My first approach to bookstores was yesterday
at Abraxas in Byron Bay where Betty was very helpful & positive
Today I went to Mullumbimby & arranged that our book
is also available at the Bookshop Mullumbimby,
I always like it there.

Otherwise it will be at Isaac's meetings only. There's been
one more hitch, the seamail copies will be late February.
I've just the airmail copies, so won't sell online yet,
just hope you'll check in again. It's AU$28 plus postage
($2.50 within Australia; $12.50 to both USA & UK)

If you like optical illusions, here's some

we have a book

Yesterday I received a finished book, it's fine, I said yes.

It became such a process. Let me warn anyone who thinks
to publish their book ~ if there are any little nooks & crannies
in your habit patterns, this will find them.
Then there are the people you deal with, who have their own
stuff..
Sensations in the body are somewhat ambiguous,
a bit like this old painting.

Excitement beginning to happen.
I get the airmail box today, the bulk will arrive by sea
from China, late January I think. Please check back then
Airmail copies for sale now, locally (Byron Bay).
I'll get paypal at Shanti Press once the books are all here.

distracting myself

Isn't it amazing how we can recognise a whole city
from a few brush strokes ? This is Varanasi
where I stayed for several months, a truly fascinating place.

A rock pool at Yamba, drove there one day with friends.

No, the book still hasn't materialised, lost in some twists of
who knows what. So I'm doing other things.
(.... ******* **** ....)

Bought a gorgeous book, Equus, photos by Tim Flach
& a lovely reunion
& a food tripper

nearly there

This is the intro page of our book
Nearly there...or not.

Interesting technology here

&, for a sister who soon starts a job with
an ngo in South America, here's two heroes:
Sebastiao Salgado & Wade Davis